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I'm a new 'trial' user of Strava. So far it seems to serve it's purpose for me for data collection/analysis... I've blown my gasket too many times with Garmin Connect & walked away. What are you using to collect gps data? The Strava app? Cellular device or gps unit?

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Biking under the canopy is tough for locking in specific segments, especially if they are short or near many other trails. But this is not really a Strava issue but an accuracy issue with the GPS on the devices we use. Out in the Stow Town Forest we have several segments and many are repeatable with regularity but sometimes you don't get logged in on a segment. Hogboy, that GPS track you are showing is insane - hard to see what is going on there especially with all the radiating straight dead end lines.

I am recovering from a severe injury, and I would like to join group ride, but I cannot overcook my knee.
GPS and Strava is motivating me to hammer when I can, solo, without the worry of being a lame ride anchor.
Last thing I want to be is 'that guy' dragging down the group. So, me vs GPS data is how I have been spending
time riding.

So...for me, it is the best thing I have ever done. I am making leaps of improvements in all aspects:

mtb
ss mtb
road
ss road

I am now able to ride +45 trail miles cruising with zero stops, earlier this year I couldn't ride 3 miles without stopping and unkinking the knee.
strava motivates me to pound away at those pedals, rinse, repeat. Other peeps strava data motivates me to ride more and harder.

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I'm fairly new to Strava, but have noticed that in the woods, it helps to REALLY know the trails well before embarking on riding segments.

On it being shite - disagree. Even though race season is over for me and close to over for most, Strava is a great way to keep the race juices going while the weather and daylight is still cooperating. For instance, I did a segment two weeks ago on my single speed, and then for comparison, did the same one yesterday on my geared bike. So I raced against myself, which was way more fun for me than it would have been to just go out and ride the same frickin trails I always ride by myself.

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For those that poopoo the Strava, I felt the same way not too many weeks ago; My attitude was and has always been riding was and always will be just for me to enjoy with friends/by myself and should always be without any distractions that will interrupt the ride in any way, you know, just to keep it all about the ride & the enjoyment.

However, now that I've tried Strava, I can say that I like it. I dont use it for EVERY ride I do especially if it's a technical/DH/Freeride MTB ride, but for those where I am laying down some XC miles, or when I'm doing some road riding, I always use it. Also, I still enjoy the ride with no distractions even with it running, it just does the data collection thing tucked away in my pocket, I never have to look at it during the ride. Posting to social media etc is an option, not a default, and looking at ride histories with all the segment data etc is pretty cool. YMMV

"Everyone I know in bicycling is at least a little bit crazy, present company included." Sheldon Brownsemass

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My phone is just a phone too, so no go there. But I keep all the 'ride data' I've ever wanted or needed in my head anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter.
(I do usually bring the phone along, specially when I'm riding alone, just in case.)

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You should never leave your phone at home, especially if you ride solo. Should you get lost or hurt it is a valuable tool to have handy.

I recently discovered Strava. Before I was using MapMyRide to get an overall picture of the speed I was riding but with frequent stops its hard to know where and how to improve. Now I can quickly compare my own times on segments as well as check to see how I compare with my friends. I'll never be KOM but that's not important. Plus, the accuracy (or lack thereof) can give people a few minute head start if Strava puts them on the second switchback at the start or finish. Even with segments that don't have switchbacks there is still a 15-30 second margin for error. Strava is also a great way to discover new trails and routes. Some of the signage at small parks isn't great but with Strava you can check to see where others ride and plan your next visit.

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I like Strava too. I don't do much actual racing on segments (though I do a little on familiar trails). I do use it to track my miles - but even then I don't use it on every ride. I like racing myself on some segments and just seeing how fast others can ride it. Its a fun diversion when riding solo.

I just got back from KT, some of the times on segments up there are insane. I would love to ride with someone who is that much faster than I am riding some of those. I could definitely learn something there.

Another use - there's a local park near my house that has some new trails on it that need traffic. I created segments on Strava of those trails and that way I can not only "announce" those trails to local riders, but also kind of watch how often certain trails are getting ridden.